CITY are expecting more clarification this week on how football plans to deal with player contracts.

The season is currently suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, with forecasts not predicting a potential return date before June at the earliest.

The delay has raised the major issue of contracts and deals, which normally run out at the end of that month.

But talks remain ongoing between all the heads in the domestic game, the FA, Premier League, EFL, players’ union and League Managers’ Association, to try to reach an agreement.

The most likely scenario would appear to be extending the expiry dates of contracts that would otherwise be up this summer, for a set period of time, to allow the season to be finished.

City, like other clubs, are waiting for news and hope for an indication into how the set-up might work within the coming days.

Richard O’Donnell, Hope Akpan, Jake Reeves and Shay McCartan are among the players whose contracts will run out at the end of June.

There is also the uncertainty regarding City’s five loan players, Callum Cooke, Dylan Connolly, Glenn Middleton, Jamie Devitt and Luke McGee.

Their agreements are believed to span until the end of the season - so technically they could have played their last games already.

James Vaughan, who remains the club’s top scorer with 11 goals, is currently in a similar situation with League One Tranmere, after signing for them on a temporary basis at the end of the January transfer window.

City are also waiting for some clarity over the £125 million donation from the Premier League to clubs in the EFL and National League.

The financial help from the top level, which is understood to have been well received at Valley Parade, will be split across the divisions.

It will considerably help with covering wage payments for the next couple of months, as football continues to reel from the impact of receiving no income through the ongoing lockdown.

The T&A understands that heads of clubs from League One and League Two are due to meet again later in the week via video link to address the next steps.

The Premier League announced on Friday that it would be advancing a financial relief package “as it is aware of the severe difficulties clubs throughout the football pyramid are suffering at this time.”

City last week announced they have placed staff and some players on furlough, as part of the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme while the sport is on hold.

A growing number of clubs have done the same, controversially including Premier League clubs such as Tottenham and Newcastle. Leaders Liverpool announced a sudden U-turn on their original decision to follow suit last night.

The training ground has been shut since March 14 as City’s squad, who should have been building up to the Easter programme this week, maintain their fitness levels from home.

There is still no indication when the scenario will be deemed safe enough for football to be played again.

Initial April deadlines have been extended and the authorities say it is unlikely there will be a resumption next month.